It's a Wonderful Life

Jackson turned 5 yesterday!  It seems like we've been talking about Jackson being 5 for so many years now (school starts at this age and all) I can't believe it's here.  Jackson picked out the birthday breakfast: waffles, whipped cream, and strawberries.  He of course, had his cute embarrassed face on while Wyatt and I sang "Happy Birthday." After Erik got home from work, we started our little family party.  Jackson and Wyatt were so excited for the chaser to begin! Looking for the next present The kids were moving so fast, a lot of the pictures turned out blurry.  I guess that captures what life is like around here with two energetic boys :) Waiting for the next clue to be read Found a big one in the basement! Jackson did not mess around opening his presents.  He started before I could even turn the camera back on (do you like the Christmas wrapping paper?  Because of our snowy week, I didn't want to brave the roads and had to make do) Can you...

Well, I guess I didn't get my wish for spring!  We got SLAMMED with snow yesterday.  It started after lunch, and seriously never quit!   Poor Erik had a meeting and dinner in Washington D.C.  It's funny because, in Rexburg we obviously got more snow some times, but it's just different here.  I think because the roads are more narrow, more windy, and there are just plain more cars and people, snow really creates a mess.  Erik left DC at 7:00 and didn't get home until midnight (this trip usually just takes an hour and a half)! Snow, snow, snow After breakfast this morning, we got bundled up (that alone TOTALLY left me exhasuted!) and went out to play I couldn't find the snow suit that Jackson wore when he was two, so poor Wyatt was wearing size 12-18 months!  Good thing, he's not too big :) It was pretty deep! Maverick had fun playing fetch and digging the ball out of the snow I thought the frosted trees looked  pretty behind our house ...

I am definitely getting stir-crazy this winter.  I knew this would happen because I really haven't been able to enjoy the outside on a consistent basis (as in picnics, walks, etc) since May.  We lived in hot, hot, hot Arizona for the summer and then moved to Virginia right in time to get cold!  Anyway, yesterday we painted, which always seems to turn into a full body-sensory experience with Wyatt! I guess Jackson has passed the stage of "feeling" the paint.  He's painting Spider Man (I outlined a body, and he did the rest). On Facebook I wrote that I was excited for the State of the Union address, and Kaitlin had the brilliant idea of doing a themed dinner :)  Well, I already had potato soup in the slow cooker, so the boys and I made some raspberry jello with blueberries, and we ended up with a red, white, and blue dinner.  When Erik came home, I asked him if he noticed a theme.  He looked really confused and then asked, "Um . . . Valentine's Da...

Last week, I finally was able to take Wyatt in for a well check.  Since he hadn't had immunizations since he was 9 months old (he had gone to the Dr. since then, but I never had a chance to gather his records properly before we moved again!), so he was not nervous at all.  In fact, he just assumed it was going to be an appointment like the many prenatal appointments he has accompanied me to.  As soon as the nurse took us to the examination room, he hopped up on the bed, lay down, and pulled his shirt up to expose his belly, ready to listen to a heart beat :)  Jackson has been obsessed with Scooby Doo lately (it goes along nicely with his superhero obsession :).  He tells me often that I am Daphne, Wyatt is Fred, and he is Shaggy.  He has been inviting us to the wedding of Daphne and Fred everyday this week.  When Fred and I show up ready to get married, we find that it's really just a dance that Shaggy DJs.  I think he remembers Paul and Daniell...

This past weekend we down to Williamsport, Pennsylvania where Erik's Mom was visiting her Mom.  It was my first time meeting "Grammy" and some other family members.  We had a great time.  We left Saturday morning, and got there in time for lunch at McDonalds with Grammy and Grammy :).  After lunch, we checked into our hotel and went to a fun musuem in Williamsport.  It has one of the largest train collections in the country, so of course the boys LOVED it! Three Generations of Orts Behold, the belly!  When I saw this picture I just laughed.  I seriously cannot believe there is room for 8 more weeks of growth in there!  My C-section is scheduled exactly 2 months from today too! :) Jackson and Wyatt loved the little archeology exhibit at the musuem. After the museum, we went out to dinner with Erik's Mom, Grandma, his Uncle Bobby and Aunt Joanne, and the boys.  Janet brought some play dough and kept Jackson very entertained, so i...

OK, don't worry I'm not going to take pictures of all the baby's clothes.  But since I got my first package of baby girl clothes today, I was just too excited to restrain myself :)  When I was holding the tiny dresses it seriously took me back to when I was obsessed with dolls, especially my Samantha doll.  I can remember being in 7th grade and being terrified that people would find out that I still played with her . . . that's so funny to me now. Anyway, I'm so excited to have my real life doll now (granted she will take a lot more work).  Some days, it's a toss up if I'm more excited about meeting our daughter or finally getting rid of the constant nausea-- either way I can't wait! PS Jackson and Wyatt were really excited to look at the dresses too.  Wyatt kept calling them "dancing dresses."

How excited am I for tonight's lemon meringue pie made from California lemons straight from my parents' backyard?  Um . . . pretty excited! :)